Hornets set up showdown

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By By Ed Patino

The Daily Reporter - Coldwater, MI

By By Ed Patino

Posted Feb. 26, 2013 at 9:00 AM

By By Ed Patino

Posted Feb. 26, 2013 at 9:00 AM

Hillsdale, Mich.

ed.patino@hillsdale.netJONESVILLE — One of the county's top rivalries will have another installment Wednesday.Getting balanced scoring in the second half, the Hillsdale High School girls basketball team pulled away for a 43-24 victory over the Hudson Tigers in the opening round of the Class C district tournament Monday at Jonesville High School.Hillsdale (11-9) advanced to Wednesday's semifinal where it will face the host Comets. The Hornets have defeated Jonesville in the district final the last two years, and won both regular season meetings this season."It's a big rivalry and should be a wonderful game to watch," Hillsdale coach Nick Langston said. "Jonesville is going to be chomping at the bit to get after us."The Hornets went 3-0 against Lenawee County Athletic Association rival Hudson this season, but the district game was much more competitive. Hillsdale worked its way to a 12-6 lead after the first quarter, but would go cold from the floor in the second. The Hornets scored just three points in the frame as Hudson fought back to within 15-14 at halftime."Hudson was fighting to make its season and they played hard," Langston said. "They caught us a bit by surprise. We can't have that because at this time of year if you fall asleep for one game you're going home."Jamee Thompson and Sarah Maple regained the momentum for Hillsdale in the third quarter. Thompson opened the frame with back-to-back 3-pointers to start a 15-5 run. Thompson scored all eight of her points in the frame and Maple had all seven of her points in the quarter to lift the Hornets into a 30-19 lead.Hillsdale closed the game with a 13-5 run in the fourth quarter."Jamee and Sarah got us through the third quarter tonight, and we needed that," Langston said.Hayley Maystead finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and three steals for the Hornets. Thompson also had four rebounds, while Maddie Eves added seven points. Whitney Hodge had two points, five rebounds and six steals. Kim Sanderson, Alana Thayer and Alyssa Anderson each finished with two points.Emily Ladd scored 10 points to lead Hudson. Laura Valdez and Emily Wayer both added four points.Hillsdale defeated the Comets twice in December, including in the finals of the Pat Patterson Holiday Classic.